Last Saturday, we shared tacos in East Atlanta with the band Flamingo Shadow before their set at 529, and we talked about music and being from outer space. Citizens of earth, meet Flamingo Shadow:
The band describe their sound as “tropical punk, sweet as skunk.” It’s an apt description for the playful loops, synth-driven pop hooks, sonic guitars and three part harmonies that the five-piece band string together. The sounds that underpin the band’s live performances come together to create a unique brand of psychedelic indie-pop built to get you dancing.
“We’re just trying to put the body back into music. A lot of times when we are working on a loop or a part, we’re constantly checking that pulse, asking if it’s making us move,” says singer Madeline Adams.
Yet, it’s easy at a Flamingo Shadow show to let the music itself bleed into the background just a bit, because of the way the band marries the sounds with visual experiences like the impressively DIY-ed light show synchronized by multi-instrumental talent Mason Brown, where microphone stands and kick drums flash in hues of red and blue alongside the music.
In bold stage makeup and bright costumery, singer Madeline Adams and keyboardist Katie Spradley bounce wildly to the upbeat sounds, their presence as much as their sound announcing the band as a worthwhile entrant in the Atlanta music scene.
Katie and Madeline have a special stage dynamic together. Though the sound of Flamingo Shadow has a lot to do with the guys in the band — Mason Brown and David Matysiak on guitars and Devin Brown on drums — it’s the girls whose front-and-center chemistry defines the Flamingo Shadow experience. Their shared energy sets the tone for a bouncy, energetic set. It’s all part of a theatrical performance happening on stage.
“The fictional backstory is that we are aliens, and we are a family, and that we come to Earth and all we want to do is assimilate, and we kind of get it wrong,” says guitarist David Matysiak.
In real life, David, Madeline, Mason and Devin have been playing music together in various forms and fashions for nearly 20 years. But Flamingo Shadow was born more recently, out of a desire to play dance music for earthlings.
“We’ve all known each other for a super long time. I grew up playing music with David and Mason in high school. We met Madeline in Athens. We played shows in the same places and hung out together. A lot of what this band is doing is building on that almost 20 year history. This specific group started when we wanted to move away from sludgy sad music and we wanted to do something that was upbeat and danceable and was incorporating the world music influences we’ve had for a long time,” says drummer Devin Brown.
And so Flamingo Shadow was born. Up next for the band? An album, due later this year. It’s to be called Earth Music, appropriately enough for an Athens-by-way-of-outer-space act who’ve landed in Atlanta with dance music to give.
“We’ve set ourselves up to keep writing, keep promoting singles, and promoting the album that will come out this year,” says Matysiak.“We’re writing every song together, as a group of aliens trying to find themselves on Earth. The Flamingo Shadow that’s here now are, I think, feeling a little more comfortable.”
Flamingo Shadow’s debut album is due out this summer. Listen to their first EP, V I B E C O N T R O L, from 2016 here. ~ Adam Kincaid
Flamingo Shadow Online:
Website // Facebook // Instagram // Twitter // Bandcamp
Upcoming Flamingo Shadow Tour Dates:
Aug. 4th – Birmingham, AL. – Venue TBD (Secret Stages Music Festival)
Aug. 11th – Athens, GA. – Little Kings (Athens Popfest)
Sept. 14th – Atlanta, GA. – Fernbank Science Center
